UNO students defeat fee hike for athletics

The game isn't over for UNO athletics, but the Privateers program suffered a setback Friday when students voted 1,418-1,251 (53.1 percent to 46.9 percent) against an increase in athletic fees.

The loss could mean an end to Privateers athletics, unless the Legislature reduces proposed budget cuts to the university, UNO Chancellor Tim Ryan said.

Facing a $1.4 million shortfall for next year, UNO athletics will depend on pending cuts by the university for the 2009-2010 fiscal year in order to survive. Under a proposal by Gov. Bobby Jindal, Ryan said, the university has to cut $15.3 million, including $1.4 million that the university gave the athletic department last year from its general fund.

"Unless we figure out some (way), in which we will work very hard on, the prospects aren't great, " Ryan said of the future of UNO athletics.

If UNO is forced to drop athletics as a cost-cutting measure, it would be the first NCAA Division I school to do so since Northeastern Illinois in 1998.

Ryan said to resume university funding for athletics, state legislators would have to reduce Jindal's proposed cuts by more than half, which would result in UNO's cut being between $6 million and $7 million.

"It's not over, " Ryan said. "This is obviously not a positive sign. It's not the only alternative."

The legislative session ends June 26. The 2009-2010 fiscal year begins July 1.

"We still have an opportunity to work with the Legislature to try to see if these cuts could be mitigated, not only to the University of New Orleans, but to all of higher education, " Ryan said.

UNO Athletic Director Jim Miller said he was disappointed in the outcome of the vote but hopeful that things can be worked out.

"We gave it a shot, " Miller said. "The students have spoken. But on a personal note, for 168 votes to threaten a 40-year athletic tradition to me is sad."

UNO coaches and athletes spent the month trying to rally the vote in favor of the increase, which would have been almost double what students pay. Under an amendment approved by UNO's student government association last week, the fee increase received a cap not to exceed $195.96 for undergraduate students and $146.97 for graduate students.

"Everybody in the organization has worked terribly hard on this, which is why this is such a disappointing day, because we really were confident that we would carry the vote, " Miller said.

Ron Maestri, UNO's athletic director from 1979 to 2000, was so disappointed in the vote that he interrupted Ryan's news conference in the Human Performance Center, which included some Privateers athletes.

"I'm concerned about the university, " Maestri said. "I'm not just concerned about the athletic department, but I am concerned about the students that are here. They are athletes, but they are students. Two, I'm worried about the coaches that are here. What are they doing to do? How are they going to recruit? Having said that, I don't hear anybody in this community talking about the University of New Orleans."

Glenn Scorsone, a member of the Privateer Athletic Foundation, said it was "a terrible day."

"I would hope Chancellor Ryan would find a way to get the money to keep sports, " Scorsone said.

Justin Cottrell, the president of the Student Government Association who played a large role in bringing the fee to a vote, said he was surprised by the outcome.

"No one expected this (vote) not to pass, " Cottrell said.

Freshman Paul Sacco said he thought the majority of students at UNO would vote to support the athletic department.

"I'm definitely surprised, but I knew the vote would be close, " Sacco said.

But Jerry Brown, a senior business management major from Baton Rouge who did not vote, said he wasn't surprised.

"I figured most students wouldn't want the fees to increase, " Brown said. "This was more about economics than sports."

Miller said he wants his coaches to take into consideration the well-being of their players when it comes to potential transfers.

"You can't stand in their way, " he said.

Miller also said UNO's recruiting is "going to be difficult based on what's happened today."

UNO freshman guard Charles Carmouche, who prepped at McMain, said he's going to wait and see what the Legislature does before he makes a decision about his future.

UNO basketball coach Joe Pasternack said what happened Friday is a setback, but he has faith that Ryan and Miller will find a way to keep athletics alive.

UNO volleyball coach Jozsef Forman was entertaining a recruit from Baton Rouge on a visit when news broke about the student vote.

"She didn't ask about it, because she wants to come here. But I had to tell her what happened today, " Forman said.

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Pierce W. Huff can be reached at phuff@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3809.